BIG AIR DISPLAY AT LEIXLIP
Leinster Leader 21 May 1955
BIG AIR DISPLAY AT LEIXLIP
Weston Aerodrome, Leixlip, will be the scene of one of the biggest air displays ever in this country on Whit-Sunday and Monday. More than fifty aircraft will participate in the demonstration of precision aerobatics and stunt flying display, whilst the static exhibition of aircraft, engines, instruments, radar models, photographs, etc., will cover thousands of square feet. There will also be a thrilling parachute display. Continental pilots will take part and Irish pilots who will participate will include Capt. P.W. Kennedy, Leixlip; Mr. George Donohoe, Navan and Mr. Dave Montgomery, Baldoyle.
Popular Pilot
Capt. Kennedy, who is exceedingly popular locally, was formerly in the Irish Air Corps and was a leading pilot with Aer Lingus before established his now widely known aerodrome and training school at Weston. Incidentally his daughter, Miss Kennedy, is the youngest qualified pilot in the country, becoming qualified to fly when she was only about 16½ years.
Mr. Donohoe, who is a native of Navan, was one of the first two Irishmen to qualify for private pilot licences since the introduction of an International Congress of air observers regulations which set a new standard in flying.
The show will have a spectacular opening at 3 p.m. each day by a Government Minister, and will continue for about three hours.
GREAT AIR DISPLAY
AT WESTON AERODROME, LEIXLIP
COUNTY KILDARE
Whit Sunday & Monday, 29th & 30th May
First of Its Kind for Twenty Years
A big programme of flying including: Mass formation flights by military and civil aircraft, Aerobatics, Parachute Descent, Gliders.
Special performance demonstrations, including display by an Aer Lingus Viscount Air Liner.
Thrilling performances by well-known military and civil pilots, including girl pilots.
GROUND EXHIBITION
On Show : An armed Seafire fighter – Jet, turbo propeller and piston engines, Trainer aircraft and Safir touring plane from Sweden.
Flying Display to be opened on the first day by Mr. Wm. Norton, T.D., Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Same Programme on both days. Civil and Military Bands in attendance including No. 1 Army Band (second day)
PLEASURE FLIGHTS ON BOTH DAYS, ALL DAY.
MARQUEE DANCING BOTH EVENINGS, 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.
ADMISSSION – TO FIELD, ADULTS, 2/-; CHILDREN, HALF;
TO GROUND EXHIBITION, 1/-, CHILDREN, HALF.
Car Parking on Aerodrome, 2/6.
Gates open 10 a.m. Flying Display starts at 2.30 p.m.
COME EARLY and see BIGGEST and BEST AVIATION SHOW ever staged in IRELAND.
Consult your nearest C.I.E. Office for Transport facilities. Special buses are being run from Dublin. Aerodrome is on main road, Dublin – Celbridge.
All military aircraft, engines and equipment, and No. 1 Army Band, by kind permission of the Minister for Defence.
AERO CLUB OF IRELAND
Re-typed by Jennifer O’Connell